Remote connection to wellhead for multiple operations

ABSTRACT

A connector adapter for use with a subterranean well includes a generally cylindrical body defining a coaxial passage therethrough, a connector end at one end of the cylindrical body, the connector end having external threads and configured to connect the cylindrical body to a remote connector, and an equipment end at another end of the cylindrical body, the equipment end having external threads and configured to connect the cylindrical body to well equipment. The remote connector comprises multiple circumferentially distributed engagement structures which clamp directly together first and second radially enlarged hubs and a biasing device which biases the engagement structures toward an open configuration thereof in which the second hub is separable from the first hub. This allows the well equipment to be connected to the wellhead without worker intervention and while a second well operation is being performed near the wellhead.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.62/541,513, entitled “Remote Connection to Wellhead for MultipleOperations,” filed Aug. 4, 2017, and is a continuation-in-part of U.S.Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 14/023,610, entitled “High PressureRemote Connector With Self-Aligning Geometry,” filed Sep. 11, 2013, bothof which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The exemplary embodiments disclosed herein relate to methods andapparatuses used in conjunction with a subterranean well and, moreparticularly, to methods and apparatuses for connecting lubricators,frac lines, and similar well equipment to a wellhead using a highpressure remote connector with self-aligning geometry in order to allowmultiple types of well operations to be performed.

BACKGROUND

It is frequently desired to make a pressure bearing connection betweencomponents at a well. However, such components are oftentimes large,heavy, manipulated by imprecise positioning equipment and/or located inrelatively inaccessible or hazardous locations. Such conditions can makeit difficult to accurately align the components so that the connectioncan conveniently be made without damaging any elements (such as seals)of the connection.

Therefore, it will be readily appreciated that improvements arecontinually needed in the art of constructing and utilizing connectorsfor use in conjunction with wells. Such improvements may be usefulwhether or not components of a connector are large, heavy, manipulatedby imprecise positioning equipment and/or located in relativelyinaccessible or hazardous locations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the exemplary disclosedembodiments, and for further advantages thereof, reference is now madeto the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a representative partial view of a well system and associatedmethod which can embody principles of this disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a representative cross-sectional view of a remote connectorand a connector adaptor which may be used in the well system and methodof

FIG. 1, and which can embody the principles of this disclosure, theconnector being depicted in an open configuration;

FIG. 3 is a representative cross-sectional view of the remote connectorand the connector adaptor, the connector being depicted in a closedconfiguration with the connector adaptor attached to the connector;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the remote connector and the connectoradaptor disclosed herein;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the remote connector in a closedconfiguration with the connector adaptor attached to the connector; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a wellhead guide that may be used withthe remote connector disclosed herein.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The following discussion is presented to enable a person ordinarilyskilled in the art to synthesize and use the exemplary disclosedembodiments. Various modifications will be readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art, and the general principles described herein may beapplied to embodiments and applications other than those detailed belowwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosed embodimentsas defined herein. Accordingly, the disclosed embodiments are notintended to be limited to the particular embodiments shown, but are tobe accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and featuresdisclosed herein.

As mentioned above, the embodiments disclosed herein relate to methodsand apparatuses for connecting lubricators, frac lines, and similar wellequipment to a wellhead. “Lubricators” are well known to those skilledin the art and refer generally to a long pipe fitted to the top of awellhead or “Christmas tree” so that tools may be put into the well. Thelubricator is installed on top of the tree, well tools are placed in thelubricator, and the lubricator is pressurized to wellbore pressure. Thetop valves of the tree are then opened to allow the tools to fall or bepumped into the wellbore under pressure. Similarly, frac lines are pipesfitted to the top of the wellhead that carry fracking fluid into thewell.

Currently, workers are needed at the wellhead to manually attach/removea lubricator to/from a wellhead, for example, in wireline operations.However, safety rules restrict personnel from being in a high pressurearea (“red zone”) when certain operations, such as fracturingoperations, are being performed nearby, such as in an adjacent well.This can cause delays while waiting for the personnel to clear the area.Eliminating the need for personnel at the wellhead to attach/remove thelubricator would improve operational efficiency and reduce HSE (health,safety, and environment) exposure.

The embodiments disclosed herein relate to methods and systems thateliminate the need for personnel to manually attach and removelubricators, frac lines, and similar well equipment at the wellhead. Themethods and systems accomplish this by enabling such well equipment tobe attached ahead of time to a remote connector with self-aligninggeometry. The self-aligning geometry of the connector in turn allows itbe connected to the wellhead using remotely operated equipment wheneverneeded. A connector adapter may be provided to attach the well equipmentto the remote connector. Multiple types of connector adapters may beused to attach multiple types of well equipment to the remote connector,thereby allowing multiple types of well operations to be performedwithout the need for personnel to be at the wellhead.

In some embodiments, the remote connector may be the same as or similarto the remote connector described in the earlier referencedNon-Provisional application Ser. No. 14/023,610, which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety. The connector adapter hereindisclosed may then be used to make the features of the referenced remoteconnector (i.e., self-aligning geometry, pressure rating, flow bore)beneficially available for use with the well equipment at the wellhead.Such an arrangement would provide a method of swapping in well services(e.g., wireline services) without exposing personnel to high pressureareas. This would in turn allow other operations (e.g., high pressureoperations) to be performed concurrently at or near the wellhead withthe current operation, thereby reducing HSE exposure on location.

Representatively illustrated in FIG. 1 is a typical well system 10 thatcan be used with the embodiments disclosed herein. However, it should beclearly understood that the well system 10 is merely one example of anapplication in which the principles of this disclosure may be practicedand a wide variety of other examples are possible. Therefore, the scopeof this disclosure is not limited in any way to the details of thesystem 10 described herein and/or depicted in the drawings.

In the example of FIG. 1, a remote connector 12 is used to connect aline 14 to a wellhead 16, which may be, for example, an ExpressKinectWellhead Connection Unit available from Halliburton Energy Services,Inc. The wellhead 16 is shown on land in the figure, but in otherexamples the remote connector 12 could be used to connect to anunderwater wellhead, to another line connected to a wellhead on land orunderwater, to a rig on land or water, and the like. Therefore, thescope of this disclosure is not limited to any particular wellheadlocation or to any particular use for the connector 12.

In the FIG. 1 example, the line 14 is used to deliver fluids at highpressures and flow rates to the wellhead 16 in a stimulation operation.The connector 12 is specially configured to withstand high pressuressuch as those used in stimulation operations, and to enable rapid andconvenient connection of the line 14 to the wellhead 16 without damageto any components of the connector. However, the scope of thisdisclosure is not limited to stimulation operations or in any otherparticular well operation, or to only relatively high pressureoperations.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a description of the connector 12 is providedby way of background. As can be seen, an enlarged scale cross-sectionalview of the connector 12 is representatively illustrated. The connector12 may be used in the well system 10 of FIG. 1, or it may be used inother well systems, in keeping with the principles of this disclosure.

In the FIG. 2 view, it may be seen that the connector 12 includesmultiple engagement structures 18 circumferentially spaced apart anddistributed about a radially enlarged hub 20. Each of the structures 18includes a recess 22 formed therein for receiving the hub 20 and anotherhub 24, whereby the hubs can be clamped together. The hub 24 can, forexample, be secured to the wellhead 16 (see FIG. 1) with a flange 26.

The structures 18 are pivotably mounted to the connector hub 20, forexample, with recesses 28 in the structures 18 being engaged with a ring30. In other examples, the structures 18 could be pivotably mountedusing pivot pins or other devices.

An upper end 18 a of each structure 18 is biased radially inward by abiasing device 32. In the open configuration depicted in FIG. 2, abiasing force exerted by the biasing device 32 has displaced the upperends 18 a of the structures 18 inward, so that lower ends 18 b of thestructures are outwardly displaced. This allows the connector andwellhead hubs 20, 24, respectively, to be separated from each other, orto be axially aligned and engaged with each other, as described morefully below.

The biasing device 32 depicted in FIG. 2 is a single continuous coiledextension spring (also known as a “garter” spring), which extends aboutthe upper ends 18 a of the structures 18. In other examples, the biasingdevice 32 could be other types of devices (such as, an elastomer, leafsprings, etc.) capable of exerting a biasing force, or multiple biasingdevices could be used, etc.

In the FIG. 2 example, the structures 18 are surrounded by a sleeve 34.The sleeve 34 is used to pivot the structures 18 between their open andclosed configurations. The sleeve 34 also prevents outward displacementof the structures 18 from their open configuration, so that the lowerends 18 b of the structures can be used to axially align the hubs 20, 24with each other when they are displaced into engagement.

Note that the lower ends 18 b of the structures 18 are generallyfunnel-shaped and have an inner surface 18 c that will approximatelylaterally center the hub 24 with the hub 20 as they are displaced towardeach other. This coarse axial alignment helps to guide a seal insert 36in the wellhead hub 24 into engagement with a seal 38 in the connectorhub 20. The seal insert 36 can be received in the connector hub 20without damage (e.g., which damage might otherwise be caused by the sealinsert improperly striking another component) and more precisely axiallyalign the hubs 20, 24, due to the coarse axial alignment of the hubs 20,24 provided by the structures 18 being maintained in their openconfiguration by the sleeve 34.

The sleeve 34 is displaced by an actuator 40 of the connector 12. Theactuator 40 includes a piston 42 connected to the hub 20, and a cylinder44 connected to the sleeve 34, so that the sleeve can be displacedrelative to the hub 20 and structures 18.

In the open configuration of FIG. 2, an increased pressure has beenapplied to an upper chamber 46 of the actuator 40, thereby producing apressure differential across the piston 42 and displacing the cylinder44 and sleeve 34 upward (as viewed in the figure). To displace thestructures 18 to a closed configuration thereof, an increased pressurecan be applied to a lower chamber 48 (see FIG. 3) of the actuator 40,thereby producing an oppositely directed pressure differential acrossthe piston 42 and displacing the cylinder 44 and sleeve 34 downward (asviewed in the figure).

As evident from above, the use of the connector 12 provides a number ofadvantages. However, depending on the implementation, the connector 12may not be physically compatible with certain types of well equipment.Note in particular the connector 12 has a generally cylindricalconnector port 50 at the opposite end from the engagement structures 18to which well equipment such as the line 14 may be connected. Thatconnector port 50 may not be able to accommodate some types of wellequipment.

Referring still to FIG. 2, a connector adapter 60 may be provided forattaching well equipment 90, such as a lubricator or frac line and thelike, to the remote connector 12. In accordance with the disclosedembodiments, instead of connecting well equipment directly to the remoteconnector 12, a connector adapter 60 that is specifically designed to becompatible the cylindrical connector port 50 of the connector 12 may beinterposed between the connector 12 and the well equipment. Differenttypes of connector adapters 60 may then be developed to allow the remoteconnector 12 to be used with different types of well equipment. It is ofcourse also possible for one type of connector adapter 60 to be usedwith multiple different types of well equipment (i.e., a “universal”adapter).

In the particular example of FIG. 2, the connector adapter 60 isdesigned to accommodate multiple types of pipe-shaped well equipment 90,including the lubricator or frac line and the like. To this end, theconnector adapter 60 has a generally cylindrical body 62 extendingbetween two ends, an equipment end 64 and a connector end 66. Thegenerally cylindrical body 62 has an interior inner wall 68 having agiven inner diameter (i.e., a first inner diameter D1) that defines apassage 70 running coaxially along the connector adapter 60. Near theequipment end 64, the interior inner wall 68 transitions to anintermediate inner wall 72 having another given diameter (i.e., a secondinner diameter D2) that is larger than the first inner diameter. Beyondthe intermediate inner wall 72, the passage 70 expands outward through afunnel shaped opening 74 at the equipment end 64. A similarfunnel-shaped opening 76 is also formed at the connector end 66 of theconnector adapter 60. External threads 78 on the connector end 66 allowthe connector adapter 60 to be threadedly connected to the connector 12via internal threads 52 of the connector port 50. In a similar manner,external threads 80 on the equipment end 64 of the connector adapter 60allow it to be threadedly connected to the well equipment 90 viainternal threads 92 thereof.

FIG. 3 shows the connector 12 with the hubs 20, 24 engaged and clampedto each other so that the connector is able to contain pressure, withthe structures 18 having been displaced to their closed configuration bydownward displacement of the sleeve 34. In this closed configuration,the seal 38 can prevent leakage of relatively high pressure fluid in theconnector 12.

Note that when the sleeve 34 is displaced downward by the actuator 40,the structures 18 are caused to pivot relative to the connector hub 20,with the upper ends 18 a displacing outward and the lower ends 18 bdisplacing inward. This inward displacement of the lower ends 18 bcauses the hubs 20, 24 to be received in the recesses 22 and clampedtogether, thereby preventing separation of the hubs. The hubs 20, 24 andrecesses 22 are provided with inclined surfaces, so that engagementbetween these surfaces acts to urge the hubs toward each other as therecesses pivot inwardly.

In FIG. 3, the connector adapter 60 can be seen threadedly engaged tothe remote connector 12 with the well equipment 90 threadedly engaged tothe connector adapter 60, the assembly being indicated generally at 92.This assembly 92 may be completed ahead of time and stored or set asideuntil such time when the well equipment 90 needs to be installed on thewellhead. When the time arrives, the well equipment 90 with theconnector adapter 60 and the connector 12 already attached may beretrieved and simply installed on the wellhead remotely via theconnector 12 without further worker intervention at the wellhead.Because no worker intervention is needed at the wellhead, other nearbyoperations, such as a fracking operation, may take place simultaneouslywith the well equipment 90 being installed without risk to personnel.This improves overall operational efficiency and reduces HSE exposure.It is of course also possible to connect only the connector 12 and theconnector adapter 60 or only the connector adapter 60 and the wellequipment 90 ahead of time without departing from the scope of thedisclosed embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the connector 12 with the connectoradaptor 60 connected thereto. The well equipment 90 may then be attachedto the connector adapter 60, and the entire assembly 92 (see FIG. 3) setaside for later use. Then, when the well equipment is ready for use, theconnector 12 with the connector adapter 60 and the well equipment 90already attached may then be clamped to the hub 24. This is depicted inFIG. 5, which is a perspective view of the connector 12 in a closedconfiguration and the connector adaptor 60 and the well equipment 90attached.

Referring to FIG. 6, in some embodiments, a wellhead guide 60 may beplaced on the wellhead (i.e., over the hub 24) to assist in aligning theconnector 12 and the wellhead. Although not expressly shown, alubricator entry guide (LEG) may also be provided on the lubricator toassist in loading of tools into the lubricator.

Although various examples have been described above, with each examplehaving certain features, it should be understood that it is notnecessary for a particular feature of one example to be used exclusivelywith that example. Instead, any of the features described above and/ordepicted in the drawings can be combined with any of the examples, inaddition to or in substitution for any of the other features of thoseexamples. One example's features are not mutually exclusive to anotherexample's features. Instead, the scope of this disclosure encompassesany combination of any of the features.

Although each example described above includes a certain combination offeatures, it should be understood that it is not necessary for allfeatures of an example to be used. Instead, any of the featuresdescribed above can be used, without any other particular feature orfeatures also being used.

Accordingly, as set forth above, in general, in one aspect, theembodiments disclosed herein are directed to a connector adapter for usewith a subterranean well. The connector adapter comprises, among otherthings, a generally cylindrical body defining a coaxial passagetherethrough, a connector end at one end of the cylindrical body, theconnector end having threads and configured to connect the cylindricalbody to a remote connector, and an equipment end at another end of thecylindrical body, the equipment end having threads and configured toconnect the cylindrical body to well equipment. The remote connectorcomprises multiple circumferentially distributed engagement structureswhich clamp directly together first and second radially enlarged hubsand a biasing device which biases the engagement structures toward anopen configuration thereof in which the second hub is separable from thefirst hub.

In accordance with any one or more of the foregoing embodiments, the thewell equipment is one of a lubricator and a frac line.

In accordance with any one or more of the foregoing embodiments, theremote connector further comprises a sleeve which encircles theengagement structures and prevents the engagement structures fromdisplacing radially outward from the open configuration.

In accordance with any one or more of the foregoing embodiments, theremote connector further comprises an actuator which, in response to afirst pressure differential applied across a piston of the actuator,displaces the sleeve to an open position in which the biasing devicedisplaces the engagement structures to the open configuration.

In accordance with any one or more of the foregoing embodiments, theactuator, in response to a second pressure differential applied acrossthe piston, displaces the sleeve to a closed position in which thesleeve biases the engagement structures into clamping engagement withthe first and second hubs.

In accordance with any one or more of the foregoing embodiments, the theengagement structures are pivotably mounted relative to the first hubbetween first and second ends of the engagement structures.

In accordance with any one or more of the foregoing embodiments, thebiasing device inwardly biases the first ends of the engagementstructures and the second ends of the engagement structures aredisplaced outward by a biasing force exerted by the biasing device.

In accordance with any one or more of the foregoing embodiments, theengagement between the second hub and the engagement structures in theopen configuration aligns the first and second hubs.

In general, in another aspect, the embodiments disclosed herein aredirected to a method of connecting well equipment to a wellhead. Themethod comprises, among other things, connecting the well equipment to aconnector adapter at an equipment end thereof, connecting a connectorend of the connector adapter to a remote connector, and connecting theremote connector to the wellhead. The method further comprises applyingpressure to the remote connector from a remote location, therebyallowing multiple circumferentially distributed engagement structures ofthe connector to displace outward to an open configuration thereof, anddisplacing a first hub of the connector into contact with a second hubsecured to the wellhead, the engagement structures axially aligning thesecond hub with the first hub during the displacing.

In accordance with any one or more of the foregoing embodiments, the thewell equipment includes one of a lubricator and a frac line.

In accordance with any one or more of the foregoing embodiments, thewell equipment is connected to the wellhead while a second welloperation is being performed near the wellhead.

In accordance with any one or more of the foregoing embodiments, thesecond well operation includes a fracking operation.

In accordance with any one or more of the foregoing embodiments, theapplying of pressure further comprises displacing a sleeve of theconnector to an open position thereof, the sleeve in the open positionpreventing outward displacement of the engagement structures from theopen configuration.

In accordance with any one or more of the foregoing embodiments, theapplying of pressure further comprises applying a first pressuredifferential across a piston of an actuator, thereby displacing thesleeve to the open position.

In accordance with any one or more of the foregoing embodiments, themethod further comprises applying a second pressure differential acrossthe piston, thereby displacing the sleeve to a closed position in whichthe sleeve biases the engagement structures into clamping engagementwith the first and second hubs.

In accordance with any one or more of the foregoing embodiments, theengagement structures are pivotably mounted relative to the first hubbetween first and second ends of the engagement structures.

In accordance with any one or more of the foregoing embodiments, abiasing device biases the engagement structures toward the openconfiguration.

In accordance with any one or more of the foregoing embodiments, thebiasing device inwardly biases ends of the engagement structures.

In accordance with any one or more of the foregoing embodiments,opposite ends of the engagement structures are displaced outward by abiasing force exerted by the biasing device.

In general, in yet another aspect, the embodiments disclosed herein aredirected to a connector adapter for use with a subterranean well. Theconnector adapter comprises, among other things, a generally cylindricalbody defining a coaxial passage therethrough, a connector end at one endof the cylindrical body, the connector end having threads and configuredto connect the cylindrical body to a remote connector, and an equipmentend at another end of the cylindrical body, the equipment end havingthreads and configured to connect the cylindrical body to wellequipment. The coaxial passage has a first inner diameter thattransitions to a second inner diameter near the equipment end, thesecond inner diameter being larger than the first inner diameter. Theremote connector comprises multiple circumferentially distributedengagement structures which clamp directly together first and secondradially enlarged hubs and a sleeve which encircles the engagementstructures and prevents the engagement structures from displacingradially outward from an open configuration thereof in which the secondhub is separable from the first hub.

In accordance with any one or more of the foregoing embodiments, thewell equipment is one of a lubricator and a frac line.

In accordance with any one or more of the foregoing embodiments,engagement between the second hub and the engagement structures in theopen configuration aligns the first and second hubs.

In accordance with any one or more of the foregoing embodiments, theremote connector further comprises an actuator which, in response to afirst pressure differential applied across a piston of the actuator,displaces the sleeve to an open position in which the engagementstructures are in the open configuration.

In accordance with any one or more of the foregoing embodiments, theactuator, in response to a second pressure differential applied acrossthe piston, displaces the sleeve to a closed position in which thesleeve biases the engagement structures into clamping engagement withthe first and second hubs.

In accordance with any one or more of the foregoing embodiments, theengagement structures are pivotably mounted relative to the first hubbetween first and second ends of the engagement structures.

In accordance with any one or more of the foregoing embodiments, theremote connector further comprises a biasing device which biases theengagement structures toward the open configuration.

In accordance with any one or more of the foregoing embodiments, thebiasing device inwardly biases ends of the engagement structures.

In accordance with any one or more of the foregoing embodiments,opposite ends of the engagement structures are displaced outward by abiasing force exerted by the biasing device.

In general, in still another aspect, the embodiments disclosed hereinare directed to a wellhead assembly for mounting to a wellhead in asubterranean well. The wellhead assembly comprises, among other things,a remote connector comprising (i) multiple circumferentially distributedengagement structures which clamp directly together first and secondradially enlarged hubs, (ii) a biasing device which biases theengagement structures toward an open configuration thereof, in which thesecond hub is separable from the first hub, (iii) a sleeve whichencircles the engagement structures and prevents the engagementstructures from displacing radially outward from the open configuration,and (iv) an actuator which, in response to a first pressure differentialapplied across a piston of the actuator, displaces the sleeve to an openposition in which the biasing device displaces the engagement structuresto the open configuration, (v) wherein the engagement structures and thepiston of the actuator are circumferentially aligned with one another soas to define a flow path therethrough extending coaxially with the firstand second hubs when the engagement structures clamp together the firstand second hubs. The wellhead assembly also comprises a connectoradapter connected to the remote connector, the connector adaptercomprising a generally cylindrical body defining a coaxial passagetherethrough, a connector end at one end of the cylindrical bodyconfigured to connect to the remote connector, and an equipment end atanother end of the cylindrical body, wherein the coaxial passage has afirst inner diameter that transitions to a second inner diameter nearthe equipment end, the second inner diameter being larger than the firstinner diameter. The wellhead assembly further comprises well equipmentconnected to the connector adapter at the equipment end thereof, thewell equipment being one of a lubricator and a well servicing line, thewell servicing line including a frac line, wherein the wellhead assemblyis preassembled as a single assembly for mounting to the wellhead.

It should be understood that the various embodiments described hereinmay be utilized in various orientations, such as inclined, inverted,horizontal, vertical, etc., and in various configurations, withoutdeparting from the principles of this disclosure. The embodiments aredescribed merely as examples of useful applications of the principles ofthe disclosure, which is not limited to any specific details of theseembodiments.

In the above description of the representative examples, directionalterms (such as “above,” “below,” “upper,” “lower,” etc.) are used forconvenience in referring to the accompanying drawings. However, itshould be clearly understood that the scope of this disclosure is notlimited to any particular directions described herein.

The terms “including,” “includes,” “comprising,” “comprises,” andsimilar terms are used in a non-limiting sense in this specification.For example, if a system, method, apparatus, device, etc., is describedas “including” a certain feature or element, the system, method,apparatus, device, etc., can include that feature or element, and canalso include other features or elements. Similarly, the term “comprises”is considered to mean “comprises, but is not limited to.”

While the invention has been described with reference to one or moreparticular embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize thatmany changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit andscope of the description. Each of these embodiments and obviousvariations thereof is contemplated as falling within the spirit andscope of the claimed invention, which is set forth in the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A connector adapter for use with a subterraneanwell, the connector adapter comprising: a generally cylindrical bodydefining a coaxial passage therethrough; a connector end at one end ofthe cylindrical body, the connector end having threads and configured toconnect the cylindrical body to a remote connector; and an equipment endat another end of the cylindrical body, the equipment end having threadsand configured to connect the cylindrical body to well equipment;wherein the remote connector comprises multiple circumferentiallydistributed engagement structures which clamp directly together firstand second radially enlarged hubs and a biasing device which biases theengagement structures toward an open configuration thereof in which thesecond hub is separable from the first hub.
 2. The connector adapter ofclaim 1, wherein the well equipment is one of a lubricator and a wellservicing line, the well servicing line including a frac line.
 3. Theconnector adapter of claim 1, wherein the remote connector furthercomprises a sleeve which encircles the engagement structures andprevents the engagement structures from displacing radially outward fromthe open configuration.
 4. The connector adapter of claim 2, wherein theremote connector further comprises an actuator which, in response to afirst pressure differential applied across a piston of the actuator,displaces the sleeve to an open position in which the biasing devicedisplaces the engagement structures to the open configuration.
 5. Theconnector adapter of claim 1, wherein the actuator, in response to asecond pressure differential applied across the piston, displaces thesleeve to a closed position in which the sleeve biases the engagementstructures into clamping engagement with the first and second hubs. 6.The connector adapter of claim 1, wherein the engagement structures arepivotably mounted relative to the first hub between first and secondends of the engagement structures.
 7. The connector adapter of claim 6,wherein the biasing device inwardly biases the first ends of theengagement structures.
 8. The connector adapter of claim 7, wherein thesecond ends of the engagement structures are displaced outward by abiasing force exerted by the biasing device.
 9. The connector adapter ofclaim 1, wherein engagement between the second hub and the engagementstructures in the open configuration aligns the first and second hubs.10. A method of connecting well equipment to a wellhead, the methodcomprising: connecting the well equipment to a connector adapter at anequipment end thereof; connecting a connector end of the connectoradapter to a remote connector; connecting the remote connector to thewellhead; applying pressure to the remote connector from a remotelocation, thereby allowing multiple circumferentially distributedengagement structures of the connector to displace outward to an openconfiguration thereof; and displacing a first hub of the connector intocontact with a second hub secured to the wellhead, the engagementstructures axially aligning the second hub with the first hub during thedisplacing.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the well equipmentincludes one of a lubricator and a well servicing line, the wellservicing line including a frac line.
 12. The method of claim 10,wherein the well equipment is connected to the wellhead while a secondwell operation is being performed near the wellhead.
 13. The method ofclaim 12, wherein the second well operation includes a frackingoperation.
 14. The method of claim 10, wherein the pressure applyingfurther comprises displacing a sleeve of the connector to an openposition thereof, the sleeve in the open position preventing outwarddisplacement of the engagement structures from the open configuration.15. The method of claim 14, wherein the pressure applying furthercomprises applying a first pressure differential across a piston of anactuator, thereby displacing the sleeve to the open position.
 16. Themethod of claim 15, further comprising applying a second pressuredifferential across the piston, thereby displacing the sleeve to aclosed position in which the sleeve biases the engagement structuresinto clamping engagement with the first and second hubs.
 17. The methodof claim 16, wherein the engagement structures are pivotably mountedrelative to the first hub between first and second ends of theengagement structures.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein a biasingdevice biases the engagement structures toward the open configuration.19. The method of claim 18, wherein the biasing device inwardly biasesends of the engagement structures.
 20. The method of claim 19, whereinopposite ends of the engagement structures are displaced outward by abiasing force exerted by the biasing device.
 21. A connector adapter foruse with a subterranean well, the connector adapter comprising: agenerally cylindrical body defining a coaxial passage therethrough; aconnector end at one end of the cylindrical body, the connector endhaving threads and configured to connect the cylindrical body to aremote connector; and an equipment end at another end of the cylindricalbody, the equipment end having threads and configured to connect thecylindrical body to well equipment, the coaxial passage having a firstinner diameter that transitions to a second inner diameter near theequipment end, the second inner diameter being larger than the firstinner diameter; wherein the remote connector comprises multiplecircumferentially distributed engagement structures which clamp directlytogether first and second radially enlarged hubs and a sleeve whichencircles the engagement structures and prevents the engagementstructures from displacing radially outward from an open configurationthereof in which the second hub is separable from the first hub.
 22. Theconnector adapter of claim 21, wherein the well equipment is one of alubricator and a well servicing line, the well servicing line includinga frac line.
 23. The connector adapter of claim 21, wherein engagementbetween the second hub and the engagement structures in the openconfiguration aligns the first and second hubs.
 24. The connectoradapter of claim 21, further comprising an actuator which, in responseto a first pressure differential applied across a piston of theactuator, displaces the sleeve to an open position in which theengagement structures are in the open configuration.
 25. The connectoradapter of claim 24, wherein the actuator, in response to a secondpressure differential applied across the piston, displaces the sleeve toa closed position in which the sleeve biases the engagement structuresinto clamping engagement with the first and second hubs.
 26. Theconnector adapter of claim 21, wherein the engagement structures arepivotably mounted relative to the first hub between first and secondends of the engagement structures.
 27. The connector adapter of claim21, further comprising a biasing device which biases the engagementstructures toward the open configuration.
 28. The connector adapter ofclaim 27, wherein the biasing device inwardly biases ends of theengagement structures.
 29. The connector adapter of claim 28, whereinopposite ends of the engagement structures are displaced outward by abiasing force exerted by the biasing device.
 30. A wellhead assembly formounting to a wellhead in a subterranean well, the wellhead assemblycomprising: a remote connector comprising (i) multiple circumferentiallydistributed engagement structures which clamp directly together firstand second radially enlarged hubs, (ii) a biasing device which biasesthe engagement structures toward an open configuration thereof, in whichthe second hub is separable from the first hub, (iii) a sleeve whichencircles the engagement structures and prevents the engagementstructures from displacing radially outward from the open configuration,and (iv) an actuator which, in response to a first pressure differentialapplied across a piston of the actuator, displaces the sleeve to an openposition in which the biasing device displaces the engagement structuresto the open configuration, (v) wherein the engagement structures and thepiston of the actuator are circumferentially aligned with one another soas to define a flow path therethrough extending coaxially with the firstand second hubs when the engagement structures clamp together the firstand second hubs; a connector adapter connected to the remote connector,the connector adapter comprising a generally cylindrical body defining acoaxial passage therethrough, a connector end at one end of thecylindrical body configured to connect to the remote connector, and anequipment end at another end of the cylindrical body, wherein thecoaxial passage has a first inner diameter that transitions to a secondinner diameter near the equipment end, the second inner diameter beinglarger than the first inner diameter; and well equipment connected tothe connector adapter at the equipment end thereof, the well equipmentbeing one of a lubricator and a well servicing line, the well servicingline including a frac line; wherein the wellhead assembly ispreassembled as a single assembly for mounting to the wellhead.